Azerbaijan set to raise oil output 27%, gas production 64% in 2008

The South Caucasus state produced a record 41.7 million metric tons of crude (840,000 bbl/d) and 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas last year.

"Output will reach 53 million tons of crude [1 million bbl/d] and some 18 billion cubic meters of natural gas this year," said Ilham Aliyev, on an official visit to Poland.

He said Azerbaijan had turned into an oil and gas producer and exporter, including to EU markets. The president also pledged to expand production in the future.

"Producers and consumers should develop active cooperation in this field, particularly in the gas sector, and both parties' interests should be determined to the maximum," Aliyev said.

Aliyev, whose visit started on Tuesday, was in Poland at the invitation of Polish President Lekh Kaczynski.

/RIA Novosti/